The house is currently a shrine to the 70s. The current owners are elderly and built the house themselves, and it probably hasn't changed at all since then.

We decided to put in a very low offer based on the amount of work that had to be done, and decided that we wouldn't offer any more as we wouldn't otherwise be able to buy the house AND do it up. It needs a new kitchen, bathroom, boiler and some new windows. The carpets will all have to go too partly because they are smokers, and there is 70s moulded backlit coving everywhere which will need to go.

Luckily we can live where we are for a while (and just pay Tim's brother rent) so all the work can be done at the same time rather than having to work around us living there.

So, a trip to see the mortgage advisor on Thursday to sort everything out.

Next on the list - purchase copies of Ideal Home magazine, get Ikea catalogue, go cat shopping.

Congratulations (again)!!! I'm so excited for you! Also, boyfriend is an architect and carpenter, and happens to be starting up his own carpentry business soon... so if you need anything built, send a message my way and I'll see what he can do. Also, if you need any help with anything, we're just an hour or so away!

Also, that is an enormous kitchen. It might be 70s now, but it's going to look so awesome when it's all finished!

OMG those are the same tiles as we had in our first house, they're more tasteful here though, in our old house they were bright orange with burnt orange medallions. It was not a hangover kitchen, they even had bright orange cupboard doors to match the tiles.

Congratulations! My fiance and I just bought a condo and moved in last weekend. It's been an adventure to say the least, but a lot of fun despite the frustrations, and we're so happy we did it. Hope your experience is as wonderful as ours!